- Bow Group
The Bow Group is one of the oldest, most influential and prestigious
think tanks in theUnited Kingdom . Taking its name from the Bow area ofLondon where it first met, it was founded in1951 . Their first pamphlet, "Coloured People In Britain", was published in1952 . The group conducts research, publishes reports, engages in political debate, and produces the quarterly members magazine "Crossbow".The Bow Group argued that it was open to all Conservatives, and that it neither expressed a collective view nor organised meetings of MPs; rather it adopted an "independent" freely critical standpoint, was a non-partisan " think-tank" capable of airing ideas from both the 'one-nation' and libertarian sides of the Conservative Party. Ian Waller, writing in the "
Sunday Telegraph " in 1971, disagreed, making comparisons between the Bow Group and theConservative Monday Club , said that the two organisations their members and aims, were as different as chalk from cheese, and that the then current mood among Conservatives meant that the Club's rising membership had overtaken that of the Bow Group. Bow Group membership in 1975 stood at 1000.In 1984 the Group sought to keep
Margaret Thatcher to her election promises, urging her to make tax cuts, reduce public spending, and reform the tax and social security system. The Group is not averse to opposing the policies of the Conservative Party.In February
2005 it published a report by former government minister, Peter Lilley, strongly opposing Labour Government plans to introduce identity cards into the UK.Prominent members of the group have included,
Geoffrey Howe ,William Rees-Mogg ,Norman St John-Stevas ,Michael Howard ,Norman Lamont ,Peter Lilley andChristopher Bland .Chairmen of the Bow Group
References
* Copping, Robert, The Story of The Monday Club - The First Decade, Foreword by
George Pole , Current Affairs Information Service, Ilford, Essex, April 1972, (P/B), p.28.* Coxall, Bill, and Lynton Robins, "Contemporary British Politics",
Macmillan Publishers , London, first published 1989, revised reprint 1992, p.239, (P/B), ISBN 0-333-34046-9* Barr, James, "The Bow Group: A History", Politico's Publishing, London, 2001, ISBN 1-84275-001-1
ee also
*
List of UK think tanks External links
*http://www.bowgroup.org/
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